Generators

Power outages are a fact of life. Most of the time they are brief…a few hours at the most. They are inconvenient and annoying, but rarely cause damage.

The bigger threat is power outages that can last for days. No power will mean no heat, resulting in frozen and broken water pipes. Sump pumps will not work and battery back-up sump pumps will last only as long as the battery holds up without power to recharge. Food can spoil. You won’t be able to have lights, or run any appliances, computers or televisions. And if you have a home security system, that will become ineffective.
One way to avoid this problem is to have a generator. Here are some thoughts.

Types of generators
There are two basic types of generators for home use.

Portable generators are the least expensive option and are good if you are at home and able to pull it outside, fill it with gasoline and monitor the running time so that it will not stop when it runs low on fuel. Portable generators are also smaller and limit the loads you can connect.

Standby generators are outdoor units that are connected to your gas line and automatically turn on and transfer power in the event of a power outage. While more expensive than the portable generators, they can be sized to specific load requirements and multiple loads. As with any engine, they do require periodic maintenance but are ready when you need them even if you are away. Many newer models offer remote communication with smart phone technology to keep updated on the system status.